Cops: Drunk driver follows motorist home, tries to run him down

The motorist yelled about the suspect's erratic driving, prompting him to follow the motorist home, driving up on his lawn to run him over

By Patrick Svitek
Chicago Tribune

Joseph M. Maloney (Photo courtesy Cook County Sheriff Dept.)

STREAMWOOD, Ill. — Angered by a motorist who yelled at him, a drunken driver followed the man to his Streamwood home and then drove through yards and over driveways trying to run him down, according to prosecutors.

Missing the man and his mother, Joseph M. Maloney, 52, circled the block and tried again to hit them as neighbors watched, prosecutors said.

Maloney failed a field sobriety test when police caught up with him, and officers reported that his eyes were glassy and his breath smelled like alcohol, according to the police report. Maloney, of the 400 block of Sherwood Drive in Streamwood, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence, aggravated assault and reckless driving.

Mahoney had been driving his red 1998 Pontiac sedan Friday afternoon when he jumped the curb and swerved back into his lane, police said. A motorist behind him pulled up at a stop sign and yelled that he should learn how to drive, police siad.

Maloney then turned in front of the motorist, who avoided a potential collision and headed home, according to Assistant State's Attorney Megan Carlson. Maloney followed the motorist to the 500 block of Ridge Circle in Streamwood.

When the motorist pulled up to his home around 4 p.m. and got out of his car, Maloney tried to hit him with his car three or four times, Carlson said. Maloney drove through yards and driveways as he tried to hit the motorist and his mother, who was doing yard work, according to a police report.

Maloney circled the block and tried again to run over the motorist and his mother, Carlson said.

Cook County Judge James Brown set bail at $75,000 for Maloney on Sunday.